Chan Lowe: Optometrists vs. ophthalmologists

Optometrists vs. ophthalmologists

February 14, 2013|By Chan Lowe

I’ll admit I’m not an expert in this matter. Optometrist, ophthalmologist—they’re confusing Greek-based words, and most people outside the field of eye care can’t distinguish between them. There is a difference, though, and it involves someone who went to medical school and someone who didn’t.

The Florida Legislature is fully aware of the distinction, and that’s what this story is really about, not about who is more qualified to peer into the windows of the soul. Evidently, the optometrists (I assume the suffix means “those who measure the eye”) have a whole lot of money and a powerful lobby, and they want the same legal privileges for writing prescriptions for all manner of drugs that the ophthalmologists have (they’re the ones who went to med school—I think).

I’m not necessarily against this. Optometrists may be perfectly capable of dispensing drugs related to their specialty. It could be that ophthalmologists are jealously trying to protect their turf. I just don’t think that the amount of money optometrists are able to throw at lawmakers ought to be the criterion.

Legislators can’t even regulate themselves. How can we expect them to adequately regulate a highly technical profession with the kind of wisdom, experience and perspicacity necessary to make the right decisions?

It would be different if we were talking about pet groomers or fortune-tellers, but these are people who mess with our eyes, for crying out loud. One would hope that our trusted lawmakers could focus on something besides the dollar signs.